A different prefabrication and modular construction sector came out of the pandemic. Ambitious startups such as Skender Manufacturing and Katerra folded in the last few years, while one major health care designer lamented an industrywide pullback that saw many of the suppliers they work with cut back on custom, by-project fabrication to standardize on products like headwalls and bathroom pods.

Demands from clients and labor shortages are forcing some contractors into other methods of creating building assemblies, driving new investments in prefabrication and modular construction techniques.

Structural materials have not changed all that much over the years, but a Florida company offers a new alternative.

Suffolk Technologies, an affiliate of the Boston construction firm, recently closed on a $110-million inaugural fund.

Proposed EPA mandate's reliance on hydrogen and carbon capture evoked concern in comments sent by an Aug. 9 deadline, but supporters say investment in clean transition approaches already are well underway. 

Contractors still resist changing processes and opening their wallets for factory-installed electric power and autonomous operation, but more are realizing the benefits.

Grant to Missouri S&T University will boost AI program to develop best concrete 3D printing options using alternative and sustainable materials so structures can be built away from ready-mix plants. 

Contractors are losing out big-time on efficiencies that would benefit projects because they aren’t tapping into 95% of the information that BIM can provide. 

The contractor, which self-performs work is standardizing its project information for better project delivery, including prefabrication.  

One of the things that Barton Malow’s wholly owned subsidiary, LiftBuild, sought to learn about its “top-down” construction approach for the Exchange residential project in Detroit was whether the process could be improved by automating workforce scheduling and bonus payments to skilled trades, reducing delays due to spikes in material prices and scheduling mix ups.